COA turns unwanted squid skin into health supplement

Squid skin is normally thrown away, but the Fisheries Research Institute announced recently that it has found a way to use it to produce functional peptides that can be sold as health care products or supplements.

The institute under the Council of Agriculture (COA) said Saturday that in tests, functional peptides made from squid skin showed positive effects in slowing down the aging process and easing blood pressure.

It said the peptides had not only proved safe but also activated neuron cells to help improve learning and reduce memory loss associated with aging.

Squid skin is mainly used as feed or simply thrown away as waste and is generally considered to be an unusable marine resource, meaning plenty is available. According to the institute, for every 150,000 metric tons of squid, there is 15,000 tons of skin.

The institute said that the composites of dried squid skin contain 70 percent protein and 13 percent sugar, and the full use of the skin will cut waste and give it economic value.